Forgive me if I am wrong, but there are reasons there are Checks and balan

[greenbriar]

and If I remember my civics class

THE FUCKING PRESIDENT DOES NOT MAKE LAWS......

[mmonk]

1. That kind of thinking is so yesterday.

I think they call it a pre-9/11 mindset.

[greenbriar]

3. what a crock the USA has become

I hang my head in shame

[mmonk]

6. I know. I have a big bruise on my forehead myself.

[fooj]

2. You bet there are reasons for check and balances...

the past 6 years should be enough to show every American WHY!

[rubberducky]

4. Sadly, this pres seems to get away with any

damn thing he pleases. I don`t see ONE person standing up to him. NO one seems to be able to tell this maniac "NO".

[kimmerspixelated]

7. Conyers

You forget Conyers, is always bringing up the wrongdoing, always writing letters to W, I'm sure he feels a bit powerless, but at least he's trying! ...But ya'll are right, this group is like Teflon-nuttin sticks to 'em!

[Solly Mack]

5. Might wanna tell Congress...quite a few in Congress seem to not know that

[calimary]

8. It's in Thomas Paine's "Common Sense." There's a treatise on it

among many other Founding Dissertations, and it was a damned good, reasonable, logical argument, too. "Common Sense" makes some mighty fine reading, especially considering what's happening to pervert so much of the Founding Thinking.

Anyway, the essay in question was toward the front of the book (it's been awhile) and talked about the perils of an executive branch that had too much power. It was the new country's adjusted version of royalty/aristocracy, versus the more plebian branch of Congress, that denoted a people's power center. The people's venue was there to contain the executive - the aristocracy, and prevent it from careening out of control and monopolizing the rule of the land and the governed. It was to prevent another kingship. There was also an argument made here decrying the idea of hereditary rule ie: royalty/aristocracy, and how what they were in the midst of birthing back in the last half of the 18th century was designed to move AWAY from that template and towards the creation of a new system. One that was completely people-powered, not run by inherited positions of status (royalty/aristocracy), but by the common men (men only, at the time).

Sure has been turned on its ear in the last five years, hasn't it? To those who say "but - but - but - 9/11 changed EVERYTHING!!!!!!" I guess the response really is - "yes, it did. Which means the terrorists won. Why are you conceding to them and giving them so much power? Why do you hate America?"

I highly recommend it if you ever have some spare contemplative time. This was such an interesting perspective when you consider that not only is it one of the Founding Think-Pieces, examining principles upon which our country would be founded, but also from the perpective of a fellow who was coming from the system in which royalty/aristocracy ruled and oppressed the common man. So ol' Thomas Paine knew what he was talking about and what was so important to avoid in the next system they were creating. He saw close-up the downside of having all power consolidated into one position, and why it was so important to keep it from happening here. They DEFINITELY wanted to go in a different direction - having lived it and learned about it - the hard way.

[rock]

9. Unfortunately the checks and balances are

are polictical (contolled by republiCONs) and legal (also contolled by republiCONs). Only by putting in Dems will we stand a chance.